Does China have long range bombers?

[Mike]

Does China have long range bombers at this time that can reach the
continental United States?

Although they have nuclear bombs, what about the planes to deliver
them?

I know China had some TU-16 planes years ago, but did they ever
develop long range bombers or get any from the former Soviet Union?

And what about China's in-air refueling capability?

[The Enlightenment]

"Mike" > wrote in message
om...
> Does China have long range bombers at this time that can reach the
> continental United States?
>
> Although they have nuclear bombs, what about the planes to deliver
> them?
>
> I know China had some TU-16 planes years ago, but did they ever
> develop long range bombers or get any from the former Soviet Union?
>
> And what about China's in-air refueling capability?

China is focusing on its economic development and improving its
technology. It is focusing on the region. They are no doubt capable
of expanding their ability to project military power great distances.
Their people are industrious, patriotic and intelligent. For the
moment they are in no great hurry. I expect they will wait until they
have gained power and the US has reduced. It seems to me that the
rapid deindustrialisation and outsourcing of the US will eventually
degrade the US's power and ability to create weaponry and fund wars.
The middle empire will then be capable of expanding its influence in
the world. The US's involvement in the Middle east is seen by some
as an attempt to reform the region in a similar way the Jacobeans
sought to change Europe or in a similar way that France under Napoleon
III sought to 'liberate' Europe in such a way that France would be
central to Europe and would consist of nations attached by gratitude
and admiration to France. (they go their asses kicked in the Franco
Prussian war incidentally)

I think it will backfire. I think this pseudo roman empire will drain
the US rather than secure it.

[Jeroen Wenting]

> Does China have long range bombers at this time that can reach the
> continental United States?
>
China has Tu-16 bombers which might be able to reach Alaska and maybe parts
of the US west coast on a suicide (read, one-way) mission.
They are rumoured to have at least a few Tu-22M (Tu-26) Backfires as well
which could reach the US west coast.

> Although they have nuclear bombs, what about the planes to deliver
> them?
>
Certainly.
Not to mention ICBMs which can reach parts of the US and several (at least
1, possibly 3 or more) SSBNs with 8+ MIRVed SLBMs each.

> I know China had some TU-16 planes years ago, but did they ever
> develop long range bombers or get any from the former Soviet Union?
>
Tu-16 both from the USSR and built by themselves. I guess they've improved
on them for better range by now to reach the US.
They can certainly reach Moscow...

> And what about China's in-air refueling capability?
Limited.

China is not much of a nuclear threat to CONUS, but the northwest is at risk
as are forces in theater (Korea, Japan, Philipines, Thailand, Malaysia,
Singapore, etc.).

Draw a circle centered on central China and reaching to Moscow and you have
the range (approximately) where the PRC can project their nuclear weapons
to.

[Cub Driver]

>Although they have nuclear bombs, what about the planes to deliver
>them?

This is, after all, 1950s technology. The Chinese are into missiles,
not manned bombers.

(No doubt they have some capable of delivering bombs to Taiwan.)



all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

[Cub Driver]

On Sat, 22 May 2004 07:28:54 GMT, "The Enlightenment"
> wrote:

>It seems to me that the
>rapid deindustrialisation and outsourcing of the US will eventually
>degrade the US's power and ability to create weaponry and fund wars.

The same way that de-agriculturalizing the economy did in the 19th and
20th centuries?

(You-all recall how the U.S. wasn't able to feed its soldiers during
World War Two.... No farmers!)

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

[Matt Wiser]

(Mike) wrote:
>Does China have long range bombers at this time
>that can reach the
>continental United States?
>
>Although they have nuclear bombs, what about
>the planes to deliver
>them?
>
>I know China had some TU-16 planes years ago,
>but did they ever
>develop long range bombers or get any from the
>former Soviet Union?
>
>And what about China's in-air refueling capability?
All the PRC has in terms of bombers are the H-6 clones of the Tu-16. None
have the range to make it to CONUS. There were reports cited in the WAPJ
article on the Tu-22M BACKFIRE that the PRC had shown in interest in the
aircraft in the early 1990s, but no sales were ever proven. Midair refueling
is limited to a version of the H-6, although the Il-76s that the PRC now
operates would make better tankers.

Posted via www.My-Newsgroups.com - web to news gateway for usenet access!

[TJ]

(Mike) wrote in message >...
> Does China have long range bombers at this time that can reach the
> continental United States?
>
> Although they have nuclear bombs, what about the planes to deliver
> them?
>
> I know China had some TU-16 planes years ago, but did they ever
> develop long range bombers or get any from the former Soviet Union?
>
> And what about China's in-air refueling capability?

The PRC have within the last two years put the BADGER back into
limited production. This variant was the B-6H. For this variant they
have ALCMs. The BADGER is essentially an intermediate strategic bomber
and as such is limited. The PRC BADGER tanker fleet is also small.
Neither do they have any BACKFIRE in their inventory. The rumours of
the PRC BACKFIREs is as bogus as them having the FOXHOUND in service.
The BACKFIRE has never been exported and the first likely export of
the type will be for India.

TJ

[Errol Cavit]

"Cub Driver" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 22 May 2004 07:28:54 GMT, "The Enlightenment"
> > wrote:
>
> >It seems to me that the
> >rapid deindustrialisation and outsourcing of the US will eventually
> >degrade the US's power and ability to create weaponry and fund wars.
>
> The same way that de-agriculturalizing the economy did in the 19th and
> 20th centuries?
>
> (You-all recall how the U.S. wasn't able to feed its soldiers during
> World War Two.... No farmers!)
>

So does anyone have the list of what was supplied by reverse lend-lease? Any
idea how much this was different from pre-war levels of imports?


--
Errol Cavit |
Our birth and death are likened to / Each daily morn and eve.
And seasons too, their annual round; / Why should we weep and grieve?
from "Transition", Herbert Cavit 1916 - 2004

[Mike]

"Jeroen Wenting" > wrote in message >...
> > Does China have long range bombers at this time that can reach the
> > continental United States?
> >
> China has Tu-16 bombers which might be able to reach Alaska and maybe parts
> of the US west coast on a suicide (read, one-way) mission.
> They are rumoured to have at least a few Tu-22M (Tu-26) Backfires as well
> which could reach the US west coast.

Wow, China may have a few backfires? They could easily hit Los
Angeles if that was the case. That's scary.


> > Although they have nuclear bombs, what about the planes to deliver
> > them?
> >
> Certainly.
> Not to mention ICBMs which can reach parts of the US and several (at least
> 1, possibly 3 or more) SSBNs with 8+ MIRVed SLBMs each.
>
> > I know China had some TU-16 planes years ago, but did they ever
> > develop long range bombers or get any from the former Soviet Union?
> >
> Tu-16 both from the USSR and built by themselves. I guess they've improved
> on them for better range by now to reach the US.
> They can certainly reach Moscow...
>
> > And what about China's in-air refueling capability?
> Limited.
>
> China is not much of a nuclear threat to CONUS, but the northwest is at risk
> as are forces in theater (Korea, Japan, Philipines, Thailand, Malaysia,
> Singapore, etc.).
>
> Draw a circle centered on central China and reaching to Moscow and you have
> the range (approximately) where the PRC can project their nuclear weapons
> to.

[Keith Willshaw]

"Mike" > wrote in message
om...
> "Jeroen Wenting" > wrote in message
>...
> > > Does China have long range bombers at this time that can reach the
> > > continental United States?
> > >
> > China has Tu-16 bombers which might be able to reach Alaska and maybe
parts
> > of the US west coast on a suicide (read, one-way) mission.
> > They are rumoured to have at least a few Tu-22M (Tu-26) Backfires as
well
> > which could reach the US west coast.
>
> Wow, China may have a few backfires? They could easily hit Los
> Angeles if that was the case. That's scary.
>

Even at the most generous estimates of its range the Backfire
would need multiple in flight refuellings to strike at that
kind of range.

Keith

[Jim Baker]

"Jeroen Wenting" > wrote in message
...
> > Does China have long range bombers at this time that can reach the
> > continental United States?
> >
> China has Tu-16 bombers which might be able to reach Alaska and maybe
parts
> of the US west coast on a suicide (read, one-way) mission.
> They are rumoured to have at least a few Tu-22M (Tu-26) Backfires as well
> which could reach the US west coast.
>
> > Although they have nuclear bombs, what about the planes to deliver
> > them?
> >
> Certainly.
> Not to mention ICBMs which can reach parts of the US and several (at least
> 1, possibly 3 or more) SSBNs with 8+ MIRVed SLBMs each.
>
> > I know China had some TU-16 planes years ago, but did they ever
> > develop long range bombers or get any from the former Soviet Union?
> >
> Tu-16 both from the USSR and built by themselves. I guess they've improved
> on them for better range by now to reach the US.
> They can certainly reach Moscow...
>
> > And what about China's in-air refueling capability?
> Limited.
>
> China is not much of a nuclear threat to CONUS, but the northwest is at
risk
> as are forces in theater (Korea, Japan, Philipines, Thailand, Malaysia,
> Singapore, etc.).
>
> Draw a circle centered on central China and reaching to Moscow and you
have
> the range (approximately) where the PRC can project their nuclear weapons
> to.
>
What you have posted regarding the range of their ICBM force is incorrect.
It was incorrect 9 years ago the last time I was privy to the info. You may
have info that you are certain about, but it doesn't jive with what I worked
with on a daily basis. Especially the "China is not much of a nuclear
threat to CONUS". Perhaps a more correct statement is "China is not much of
a theat to destroy the US and it's government". However, how many nukes
does it take to ruin your day?

JB